Establishing Social Impact, Global Citizenship & Business Development Partnerships in Africa
Our Model
#TRADENOTAID
We are learning all the time. The more time we spend working in Africa the more we notice how much there is to learn. We aim to keep empowerment at our core, we aim to think of our purpose as a fluid idea that is enhanced by long term collaboration, grown through mutual cross cultural respect and inspired by what we have seen, experienced and heard. There is no perfect model for Sustainable Travel- there is a concept, and what defines that is up to the agents, operators, travellers and host communities- is it possible for that to work for everyone? We don’t know yet but this is what we strive for
#ECOSYSTEMS
Protecting our ecosystems comes hand in hand with ecotourism and the promotion for the reliance of the local economy of a host destination. Our current fundraisers are centred around the concept of the circular economy and importance of protecting Malawi’s ecosystems.
Who We Work With In Malawi
Our company has chosen to work with existing organisations instead of starting our own projects. This is because we believe a more sustainable model of development is garnered through collaboration. We have been working with the same communities in Southern Malawi for 12 years, supporting their income generating initiatives, infrastructure and education programmes. We also work with a number of education, conservation and business training initiatives in Malawi. Our Malawian team help us identify organisations to partner with and continue this support through regular needs and impact assessments.
Our Malawian Staff
Our staff in Malawi bring the tingle to our company. They are the backbone of every successful expedition and they are the masters of creativity, adaptability and sharing their knowledge with you in a way that will make you fall in love with the people, landscapes and culture of beautiful Malawi. We have hand picked our staff and provide ongoing staff development, training programmes and support for their ongoing education up to Masters level. We also provide guide training for up to 20 freelance guides/drivers ensuring we have a pool of highly trained staff to work with.
Our Spotlight Initiatives
Education/Skill Exchange
We work with a number of Malawian Entrepreneurs on our Orbis Impact Expeditions. Sharing knowledge, business development workshops and mentoring programmes are at the heart of our Women’s Partnership Expedition, Entrepreneurs Journey and Bespoke Impact Expeditions. In 2018-2020 we brought together 60 Malawian entrepreneurs at our skill sharing workshops. 10% of your Orbis Impact Expedition cost goes to the Orbis Foundation Micro Finance Fund for Malawian entrepreneurs. Find out more about the work of The Orbis Foundation and why we support a model of Trade and Not Aid.
Ecotourism
The local economy in Malawi needs support and we are committed to using tourism to do this. Every visit made by an Orbis traveller contributes $20 per person to the local community organisation that hosts you. This acts as an income. It offers someone a job and gives you, the traveller, the most incredible local experience. Our ecotourism visits range from 1/2 day village visit to an overnight village style air b/n/b.
We have paid over $10,000 to communities through ecotourism business initiatives from 2014-2019.
Conservation Awareness
We want to guide you to the very best local projects to support during your time in Malawi. The first place to start is by offsetting your flight- in 2020 we began a collaboration with Zomba based initiative TREEZ. Headed up by our friends at Zomba Forest Lodge TREEZ is committed to using local education and community action to engage their surrounding villages to combat the devastating effects of burning and deforestation on the edges of Zomba Forest Reserve.
Raising funds and awareness for TREEZ is also our ‘purpose’ for our 2021 Orbis Trail Challenge.
Our Impact (2007 - 2020)
A sample look at our collaboration.
Rainbow Hope Secondary School
We have worked with our community partners and four Orbis Study Trips to build a village secondary school providing education to 200+ students. There are now four classrooms and a specially designed STEM building. The school is on the shores of Lake Malawi, close to Mangochi Town.
Early Childhood Development
Over the past 4 yrs we have supported the build of four Early Childhood Development Centres with our linked community in Zomba. These nursery school settings provide early years education for pre schoolers and after school adult literacy hubs.
Nutrition Programme
In 2018/2019 we raised £27,000 for two nutrition organisations in Malawi. Street Chef and Open Arms. Both are Malawian orgs working to improve child hood malnutrition. Read our blog about our work with Open Arms.
Conservation
We have supported various conservation initiatives including Ripple Africa. Wildlife Society of Malawi and now we are collaborating with TREEZ in Zomba. From 2008-2019 1.5% of each booking went to support our Payment for Ecosytem Services projects- raising over £5,000 per year.
The Travel Barn
Our office in Malawi is run from solar power. All our office paper is recycled next door at a small community initiative called PAMET. We also offer our office space at no charge for business workshops through our Orbis Impact Expeditions Work.
Village Homestays
In 2013 we set up Malawi’s first village homestay programme in a rural area in Zomba District. 7 families are part of the scheme and receive $60 per person they host to stay with their family. This is a direct income generating activity and acts as a business for the families involved.
Business Workshops
As well as providing educational support for our own staff, in 2018 we started working with female entrepreneurs running knowledge exchange workshops. We work with a number of business networks across Blantyre and Lilongwe and continue support through Skype/Whats App mentoring.
Student Sponsorship
Education is key. It costs around £200 a year to sponsor a secondary school student and we ask for a four year commitment. Your student will join the student mentorship scheme and is chosen using a system that assesses their primary school results, social and economic situation.
Your Role
You have chosen to travel with Orbis Expeditions because you want to travel with a Purpose and think intelligently about the impact you have when you travel. So what is your impact and how can we ensure this is as positive as possible?
What can you bring out to Malawi? Find out where you are going and exactly what will be useful. Contact us before you travel. Try to buy as many things locally in Malawi as you can.
How can I offset my Carbon Footprint? Donate to our 2020 conservation fundraiser.
My lodge is incredible? I feel guilty…Always keep in the back of your mind that every place you stay in you are contributing directly to local employment, Malawi needs your tourism dollars and the very best impact you can have during your time there is spend your money! Enjoy the spot of luxury along the journey- guilt free!
Your impact when you visit the community: Visiting local communities may make you feel uncomfortable, it should make you question and will be one of the aspects of your expedition that will stick with you. It is also the part of your trip that has the most direct economic impact to local communities. Every time you are hosting within a community we pay your host. It is a business initiative. Read our Guidelines here to ensure you make the most out of your time.
Should I tip my guide?: We do pay our staff well but please offer a tip to your guide/driver at the end of your trip. As you would anyone within the service industry. They work very hard and your support is appreciated.
How can I continue supporting when I come home? We ask that you don’t hand money out during your time in Malawi. BUT there are so many ways you can sustainably support when you are home so contact us and we can advise. Or see below for a list of our current projects needing support.
What can I get involved in now?
We think about every initiative we get involved in…so you can trust your support is as empowering and sustainable as possible.
Solar Pump
We need £3,000 to finish a solar water pump project at Rainbow Hope Secondary School. To provide a water source for their new permaculture garden and the student dorm accommodation.
Sponsorship
We ask for a four year commitment. You can sponsor a secondary school student for around £200 a year or join a group of donors and sponsor a student through their university education. You will receive annual reports and we try to act as your pen-pal link too.
Business Skills
Join one of our Orbis Impact Expedition Teams to work with Malawian entrepreneurs sharing your business skills and developing small start up businesses. Whether it be business coaching, consultancy, marketing, finance or law - your skills are useful and you will learn so much too.
Work with us
If you love what we do and you want to collaborate with us then we are always open to chat. You can barter your skills for discounted places, get your company involved in our Orbis Challenge Series or take on an internship with our UK or Malawi based companies.